Japanese meaning of 雀百まで踊り忘れず
Reading:
すずめひゃくまでおどりわすれず (suzume hyaku made odori wasurezu)
English Translation:
Old habits die hard
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Deeply ingrained habits persist for life.
Cultural Context:
Often cited in family or workplace talk when longstanding habits show; appears in folk sayings.
身についた癖や性分は年を取っても変わりにくいという意味。
家庭や職場で長年の癖を語る際に引用。民間伝承的な言い回しとして定着。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• 雀 (suzume) = “sparrow” (noun)
• 百まで (hyaku made) = “until one hundred years old” (set phrase indicating lifetime)
• 踊り忘れず (odori wasurezu) = classical negative continuative form meaning “without forgetting to dance”
Noun phrase + time expression + verb phrase, showing that habits persist through life.
Trap for English Speakers
Literal meaning may confuse learners; it expresses that ingrained habits persist.
Example
Basic Example
習慣や性格はなかなか変わらない、雀百まで踊り忘れずだ。
Old habits die hard—people rarely change.
Applied Example
彼、デート中でも筋トレする…雀百まで踊り忘れずだね。
He still works out during our date—old habits die hard.